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Bi-State
Primary Care Association’s Board of Directors, with input and advice
from its members, determines the proper position response from Bi-State.
The Board’s decisions are based largely on the recommendations of
the Government Relations Subcommittees.
Bi-State’s
Government Relations Subcommittees will annually draft a set of policy
statements to guide the Board, staff and members on issues likely to be
addressed through legislation. These
statements are broad expressions of how primary care delivery perceives
issues, how providers and consumers may be affected and what position
Bi-State takes on specific issues. These
statements shall be adopted by the Board.
Next, the
Government Relations Subcommittee considers proposed legislation which
impacts primary care delivery, first reviewing in New Hampshire, the LSRs
(bill titles) to identify potential pieces of legislation to follow and in
Vermont, the bills when they become available.
Each bill shall be assigned one of the following priority rankings.
Priority 1:
Priority Action Status – Essential Bill(s) Only
Bi-State
will engage in a coordinated campaign: draft talking points; communicate
with and cultivate key legislators; work with core list of organizational
allies/supporters; rally and coordinate Bi-State member communication
efforts with legislators; draft testimony; attend and testify at hearings;
turn members and allies out at hearings as appropriate and necessary; keep
Government Relations Subcommittee and Board posted on all developments.
Priority
2:
Public Position Status – Important But Not Essential Bills
Bi-State will take a public
position but with defined and more limited action: draft testimony; attend
and testify at hearings; communicate with key legislators and allies as
necessary and appropriate; keep Government Relations Subcommittee and
Board posted on all developments.
Priority 3:
Tracking Only Status – Relevant Bills
Bi-State
will track and monitor the status of other bills relevant to members;
communicate with key players as necessary and appropriate; keep the
Government Relations Subcommittee and Board posted on all developments.
The priority
is considered based on the answers to the following questions:
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Would passage of the bill have an immediate effect on the
financial status/sustainability of CHCs?
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Would passage of the bill have a
long-term effect on the financial status/sustainability of CHCs?
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Would passage of the bill have a
meaningful impact on primary health care delivery to the underserved?
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Is the campaign winnable?
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How would our position on the bill
impact our relationships with the State and/or other key
organizations?
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Considering Bi-State’s limited
resources, would our involvement in this initiative make a meaningful
difference?
The Government Relations
Subcommittee members work closely with Bi-State’s Vermont and New
Hampshire Public Policy Directors and Executive Director to assess the
likelihood of winning a campaign to pass or defeat a bill and to determine
what coalitions may be needed during the session.
The Executive Director is
responsible for taking a specific position on legislation in concert with
principles and priorities established by the Board.
When unforeseen issues arise or the appropriate position to be
taken is questionable, the New Hampshire and Vermont Public Policy
Directors will consult with the Executive Director, the Director will
consult with Bi-State’s President and Government Relations Subcommittee
Chairs to determine the course of action.
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